Disclaimer: All the Twilight stuff belongs to Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended. I'm just playing in her sandbox.

Chapter 17 Happenings

BPOV

My husband was sleeping.

It didn't occur to me to be worried about him. Perhaps being human, sleeping seemed more normal to me than it would have seemed to his vampire family if they had found him. I was beside myself with happiness for him! I knew he had talked about sleep being the one thing he really missed. Not wanting to disturb him, I put my head back where it had been, willing this to last for him, hoping my tears didn't wake him.

It was in these moments that I missed his heartbeat, the telltale reassurance that his eyes would open, that this stillness was only temporary. It was several hours before I felt him stir, grasp me really, as though he wasn't sure where he was. I raised my head to stare into his golden eyes.

"Good morning, sweetheart! Did you sleep well?"

"I . . . I can't sleep, love. You know that", he looked around the room, disoriented.

"Well, what do you call it when your eyes are closed, you were not breathing, and you didn't respond to me for hours . . . because I call that sleeping!", I said as I propped myself up on my elbow beside him to stare into his eyes.

"I was sleeping?", he glanced around the room and his eyes settled back on me. "Bella, I WAS sleeping!" He looked so surprised! "Well, wait till Carlisle hears about this!"

"I know, baby. Didn't you tell me that was one of the things you really missed!"

"But, Bella . . . vampires don't sleep, ever!", he said, concern shadowing his face.

"Well", I said as I kissed him, "Apparently they do! How do you feel?"

Edward stretched and rolled slightly side to side. "I feel wonderful, amazing really, but Bella, after last night . . . I would feel great sleep or no sleep!", he said as he softly kissed my lips!

"Hey, since I just woke up, this qualifies as morning, right?"

"Mid-morning, but yes!"

"And every night before you go to sleep and each morning when you wake up we make love, right?"

"Right . . . "

"Well, does that count when I wake up?", he asked as his body covered mine and his lips stopped me from answering.

~oooOooo~

EPOV

Carlisle had been concerned when I told him what had happened, he had never heard of such a thing happening to a vampire, but then he could not imagine doing what Bella and I had done the night before and Bella still being alive! She was mortified, of course, that I had told Carlisle. I explained that he had to have the details to fully explain the "sleeping" to him. I needed him to check it out and make sure that it wasn't the start of some sort of a problem, though I didn't think it was.

After we showered and Bella had breakfast, we started looking around my room to see what things we wanted to take back with us or have shipped.

"Edward," she called to me, "Do we bring the clothes or leave them here?"

I looked up from going through one of my drawers, "The way Alice shops, I'd say bring the things you really like and leave the rest. We might need some next time we come for a visit, anyway!"

"You really just left everything?", she asked me in disbelief.

"Sweetheart, I really didn't do anything. Esme left everything to try and not have reminders of you around me. I was incapable of doing anything. Walking away was almost more than I could manage. I told them to leave everything of mine, none of it mattered to me without you, but Alice boxed up my journals and CD's and took them anyway."

She came over to where I stood by my dresser and put her arms around me. I turned to hold her for a long minute. "I love you you know!", she whispered sweetly to me. "I know you do, I am only just realizing how much you really do love and understand me, Bella. You always have!", I told her as I kissed her lips and hugged her to me.

"I left these before, but I really want them in our new home!", I said as I lifted a framed photo of the two of us off my dresser, "We should make an album out of the photos in the box in my closet and keep going with albums in the years to come! My appearance doesn't change, but yours does, for now, and the styles we wear and the places in the background change."

"Photos will help me remember people and things in my human days, for later . . . after I'm changed, won't they?", Bella asked, "I will be able to remember, won't I?"

"I think they will. It would be a great idea for you to have an album to look over to help you remember, love, and I will remember everything and remind you as often as you like."

We continued to pack for a few minutes longer, till nature called and she had to have a bathroom break.

"Woops, Edward!", she called to me, "We need to go to the drugstore, I'm out of tampons, sweetie and I'm pretty sure no one else in this house would have any!"

My mouth hung open in spite of myself. I could not imagine such a waste. I looked at her like she was nuts. Tampons!

"Bella! You know, I could take care of that for you . . . it's no trouble, really . . . if you want!", I put on my best puppy dog pleading face.

"EDWARD!"

I didn't even know that a human could turn that shade of red. I was afraid she was going to pop a blood vessel or something, or even worse . . . tell me no! After a few minutes, OK an hour really, of indulging me, we showered and headed off to go to a movie together, by way of the drug store. I think she may have just wanted to get me out in public where she thought I might behave! We ducked into the sub shop next door to the drug store and she ordered food for herself. It was so enjoyable just to be with her, regardless of what we were doing. I was happier than I had ever been. We exited the sub shop, laughing and smiling with our arms around each other.

"Cullen!", a harsh voice called out to me. I stiffened immediately, placing myself between Bella and the voice.

We turned to see Sam Uley approaching with Sue Clearwater. We both greeted Sue warmly.

"Sue, good afternoon!", Bella said happily.

"How are you today?", I asked Sue, my displeasure at having Bella near Sam was showing.

"I'm good", she said curtly. "Edward, this is Sam Uley, I believe you met a few months ago when Carlisle was here. He is the acting chief of the Quilette tribe right now and there are some concerns we would like to discuss with you, if we could speak privately", she said nodding to Bella.

"Sue . . . I'm happy to speak with you regarding any concerns you might have, but my wife is privy to anything that I do or am involved with", I told them, "anything you have to say to me can be said in front of her."

I looked directly at Sam Uley, "She and I have no secrets."

Sam's mind was filled with rage. He had told me months go that they considered Bella under their protection because of the relationship her father Charlie had with Billy, the last Chief of the tribe. He was barely able to contain himself from trembling, outraged at the idea a bloodsucker openly being with her. He starred at me a long minute.

"So it's true, she knows you are a vampire and she married you anyway", he said with disgust. It wasn't a question. If there was a chance she didn't know, he would state it plainly and make sure to expose me to her. He studied Bella intently looking for any signs of surprise or upset, he found none.

"We need to discuss the treaty. Is Carlisle here?", Sam asked.

"No, Carlisle and my family moved away. Bella and I are here for a visit, to see her dad and pick up a few things," I told him. He still starred at us in disbelief, Bella's arm around my waist.

"And Jacob?", he turned to Bella, "You left with him, do you know where he is?"

"Jacob is working and seems happy, what more do you need to know?", Bella retorted boldly.

"Jacob was in line to be chief after Billy's death. We need to straighten some things out with him and some decisions need to be made regarding the treaty his grandfather signed with Carlisle", Sam explained.

"I remember," Edward told him, "I was there when it was signed!"

The noise made by the sharp intake of air from Bella was far too quiet for anyone other than me to hear. She had heard the legends and knew the stories, I suppose she was just surprised at having them verbally confirmed.

"We'll be seeing Jacob next month, if you like, we can let him know that you really want to speak to him!", I told Sam. His thoughts went wild. What the hell would Jacob be doing going to a bloodsuckers house and did Jacob even know what Edward was?

"YOU will be seeing him?", Sam nearly shouted.

"Yes, Sam. Jacob and I are friendly with each other because of Bella", I informed him, "and last time I saw Jacob he still didn't believe the legends."

He looked as tough I had slapped him. Sues' eyes were wide with disbelief. Sam was wanting to know if Jacob has phased into wolf form yet and I gave him his answer.

"Sue, Jacob will be at our house for Christmas. If he hasn't called Sam by then, perhaps you could persuade him. You and Charlie are still coming for the holidays, right?"

Sam turned to look at Sue in disbelief, like he thought she had lost her mind for even thinking of doing such a thing as socializing with me.

'Well, if I can be of any further help, Sam, Sue has both my phone number and Bella's. I trust you'll let me know of anything else you may need me for. Right now, my wife and I are about to be late for the movie theater. We'll look forward to hearing from you. Sue, dinner tomorrow night at Charlie's, right?", I said with no room for discussion.

"Yes, I'll be there", Sue quietly admitted.

"Alright then, we'll see you there!", Bella said as we turned our backs to their hostility to walk down the street toward the theater. Everything was within walking distance in Forks!

"Edward! All those old legends Jacob told me were true!", Bella exclaimed after we were beyond their hearing.

"I don't know what legends you mean, but the ones about werewolves and vampires are."

"Jacob . . . descended from wolves? Are you serious?", she asked,

"Absolutely, you are surrounded by legends!", I laughed as we purchased our tickets.

~oooOooo~

Bella was still laughing at me as we left the theater. I had spent the entire movie trying to make out with her and she had spent the time fending off my advancing hands! It was amazing how normal and carefree things could be sometimes. From all appearances, we were a young couple in love, with our entire lives ahead of us. In truth, we were . . . and I had never been happier.

Much to our surprise, Angela and Eric were outside in the lobby!

"Bella!", Angela called, "I wish I had known you were coming, we could all have come together!"

Mike and Jessica walked up just as Angela was saying, "And you remember Eric, my boyfriend!"

"Guys", Angela said addressing her three companions, "you all remember Edward, I know you remember Bella!" She laughed. Of course they remembered.

"We were just going for pizza, how about coming with us so we can catch up!", Angela suggested. I really liked Angela. Her thoughts were sincere and she had truly been a friend to Bella. Mike hated me, same as always and Eric just went along with whatever Angela wanted. Jessica, now Jessica I wasn't sure I would be able to stand being around for any length of time at all. Her mind was already running into the gutter just thinking of things she wanted me to do to her! Disgusting!

"Bella?", I looked questioningly at her.

"Sure, I'm always hungry for pizza, even though we just ate!", she said covering for me so that I would not be expected to eat the vile human food! She thought of everything and was even starting to flesh out excuses that made my behavior much more believable. She really was already a Cullen, vampire or not!

Conversation continued as we walked to the restaurant and found a table by the front window. Mike managed to grab a seat by Bella, which was bad in that I didn't want him near her, but good in that it kept Jessica from sitting by me! Angela mentioned Bella's new car and the guys at the table immediately began speaking Car and Driver when they found out she had an R8. The girls were discussing some new happening with a family in town, when I heard Jessica ask . . .

"So, Bella, rumor had it that you left with that kid from the reservation! Was it true?", Jessica asked.

"I did, Jessica, and his name is Jacob", Bella answered with a frown.

"I remember him", Angela said, "really tall guy you rode motorcycles with out on the reservation, right?"

"That's him!", Bella answered, smiling at Angela.

"You actually started riding motorcycles yourself, Bella! Wow! I remember when we went to the movies one night and you jumped on the back of that guys motorcycle!", Jessica remarked.

I watched the scene in Jessica's mind as Bella disappeared down the street on the back of a random strangers bike, a guy out of a group of guys that appeared to be drinking. I was horrified. She had told me how bad it had gotten, the lengths she had gone to for a glimpse of me, but to see it happening in Jessica's mind was much harder to take.

"I thought I was going to end up in some FBI room having to describe the guy after you went missing!", Jessica laughed. She was saying these things specifically to upset Bella, and hopefully make me think less of Bella. Damn girl. Wonder if anyone would notice if I spread out pieces of her body over several locations, after I ripped her apart.

"So, Edward, do you ride bikes as well?", Angela asked to try and change the way the conversation was going.

"I have in the past, but I am considering getting another bike, if Bella wants to go riding!", I told Angela as I moved to hold my wife's hand.

"Mike, how's college? You did go on to the University of Washington after graduation, didn't you?", Bella asked.

"I did and so did Eric! Actually, we're roommates there!", Mike replied.

"For real? That's awesome. Do you like it? College I mean?", Bella wanted to know.

"I like not having my Mom always asking me where I was going and telling me when to be back! And I definitely don't miss working at the store!"

We all laughed, everyone knew that Mike hated working at his parents Outdoor Outfitters store. The pizza arrived and everyone else started to dig in. Angela looked at me as I relaxed and sat back in my chair, making no effort to grab a slice.

"Are you still on that 'special' diet, Edward?", she asked. She remembered from the conversation we had at the grocery store.

Unfortunately when Angela asked me about my diet, Bella had just taken a large sip of her coke, which she now wore all over herself and the table in front of her. I couldn't help but laugh at her, as I answered Angela.

"I sure am, Angela. I really like the fact that the food I eat is the closest thing you can get to being still on the hoof!"

My answer didn't help Bella's hysteria. She tried to stifle her laughter with her hand, but the straight faced way I had delivered the line was just too much for her.

"You alright, sweetheart?"

I asked as I put my arm on the back of her chair, my face giving away nothing. Bella stood and excused herself to the restroom to clean off the sticky coke and I took the opportunity to go and find our waitress and pay the bill. I thought it might be a nice gesture and from what I had picked out of their minds, funds were tight for all of them and it would be appreciated. I wanted anything to do with Bella to be a positive. As I waited for the waitress to return with my card, I overheard Jessica at the table.

"Wonder how long it took her to find him, I bet she had to put out to get him to even give her the time of day!", Jessica was saying.

I glared at her. Perhaps I wouldn't mind the extra effort it would take to hide the body once I finished with her. Angela started to defend Bella. I really liked that girl, but I needed to step in and handle this once and for all. I walked back over to the table, ignoring the phone buzzing in my pocket.

"I hope you'll excuse us when Bella gets back, I really want to get her back to my place early!"

Jessica's' thoughts ran wild with "I told you so's" and "see he only wants to get laid". I couldn't help but chuckle. I placed my arm around Bellas' shoulders when she returned and brushed my lips against hers. Jessica was beside herself, totally thinking I was only there because Bella put out. I did enjoy the "putting out", don't get me wrong! I stood behind her with my arms crossed around her shoulders, left hand on top, purposefully. Jessica gasped. She noticed my wedding ring. She quickly looked to Bellas' ring finger and sure enough, she saw what she would never have believed in a thousand years. She couldn't contain herself and blurted out,

"You're married?"

"Yes, Jessica, after I begged her, Bella agreed to be my wife and we were married last June", I happily announced to all of them.

Jessica and Mike were stunned! They had no words coming out and no thoughts in their minds! I appreciated the quiet from them for a change! Since we had been married for months, it was obvious to even them that we did not get married because Bella was pregnant!

"If you'll excuse us, we just built a new home and need to finish packing things at my house to move. Very little will fit in Bella's sports car, so we have to ship things in the morning", I told them. I normally wasn't one for bragging, but they needed to know that I was all about Bella.

My phone buzzed in my pocket again, I couldn't let it go a second time without answering it. Alice. I had to get us away from the window and now.

"Would you guys like a turn behind the wheel in the R8?", I asked.

Bellas' head snapped toward me and she looked at me like I had taken leave of my senses as I took Angela by the elbow to escort her out. Everyone rose quickly to follow Bella and I back through the restaurant to go out the entry way. Jessica and Mike lagged behind and I didn't really care, I had made the effort. No sooner had we made it to the back hall to make our way out than there was a loud crash and the sound of glass shattering and people screaming. I looked to see that, just as Alice had predicted, a car had driven straight through the front window of the restaurant, crushing the walls and completely obliterating the table where we had just been sitting! I had no idea the death toll, but the smell of blood permeated the air. Humans. Always some stupid thing happening.

Instead of just grabbing Bella and moving her to safety as I would have normally done, Alice's call had allowed me the time to coax her friends away from the danger as well. I thought it might be important to her. Angela had been a good friend to Bella and I wanted her to be safe as well. That had been my goal, to get them away from the danger. Eric had followed close to Angela and was unharmed, but Jessica and Mike had lingered at the table, no doubt to exchange harsh words about Bella or me.

"Edward . . . Jessica and Mike!", Bella asked, looking at me expectantly. She was obviously upset that her 'friends' were not with us.

"Bella, Angela, stay here!", I said as I moved them to an interior wall.

Eric stood dutifully in front of them as I went to check on Mike and Jessica. Mike was knocked halfway across the room and appeared to have a broken leg, but seemed otherwise alright. I found Jessica after I lifted a table and some clutter off of her. She had some lacerations and one on her arm was severe, along with possible internal injuries, there was too much commotion to listen properly and made a determination. I lifted her and moved at my speed, no one noticing me in the confusion and placed her on a bench on the sidewalk outside while she was still unconscious.

After checking on Mike and taking Jessica outside, thus completing my job of checking on her friends for Bella, I returned to where I had left her and Angela, Eric still attempting to protect them from all the commotion around them. I led them outside and turned to put my arms around Bella. I nuzzled my face into her neck.

"Are you alright, baby?", I whispered to her. "I am now, Edward. Thank you. The call was from Alice, she saw the car coming, didn't she?", asked Bella.

"She did. How did you know?", I whispered in her ear.

"Edward, please. You would NEVER let anyone drive the R8! Thank you for getting Angela out of there, it means alot to me. I know you saved her because she's my friend."

"I would do anything for you, Bella", I said hugging her close as we stood on the sidewalk looking in through the open hole the car had made in the building.

I was distracted by several guys yelling and trying to lift the car that now sat mostly in the restaurant, apparently someone was trapped. I walked over and counted with them as we all strained and puffed to lift it. We, of course, were successful. I just had to make it look like it took five of us! Bella's mouth turned up at the edges in spite of the horrific scene in front of us, she chuckled at my having it look like it took all those guys to lift the car! As I placed the car down it hit me. Coming from inside the errant car, a smell I would recognize anywhere - vampire! What the hell? the driver was an older man, and he had not been drained, I checked for that before anyone got to him.

Angela approached where we stood holding each other. She was in tears, blood on her shirt. "Angela! Are you hurt?", Bella gasped. "No, no . . . its Jessica", she said pointing to the bench behind us, "They aid she had lost too much blood!"

The medics were just covering the body, though they were not fast enough. The laceration on her neck was clearly visible.

Charlie arrived on the scene. This was a big occurrence for a small town and we all helped get the injured outside and safely waiting for treatment, somewhat in the order of severity of injury thanks to the medical training I had and my unique abilities to perform triage without blood pressure machines and stethoscopes! Bella had insisted. Angela and Eric had gone in the ambulance with Mike to the hospital. Bella had used Angelas' phone and called Mike's parents to meet them at the hospital and the other injured people were being cared for. I needed to leave, the smell of blood was persuasive here and I had done all I could. All seemed under control except for the paperwork, which I am sure Charlie was dreading!

Bella had been amazing. She had steadfastly endured the smell of blood and had managed to settle and comfort a number of the injured. Were it not for Carlisle, and his damned insistence on compassion and caring for the humans, I would probably have scooped up my wife and gotten her away from any upset this was causing her, but then it was she that had wanted me to stay and help.

I rang Alice. I needed to know if she saw any other problems in our future, now that she was seeing us crystal clear. I asked her to really look hard over the next few months. I needed assurance that all would go well, at least till Bella was a bit more durable!

Alice had seen that it would go well if she and Jasper accompanied us and that we would all have a great time! I was glad to hear it! I would protect Bella, of course, but my sister and brother were the Calvary and I appreciated them for it! They would drive Esme's Jaguar back to Highlands with us on the road trip!

"Is it alright if we stop by the hospital on the way home?", she asked as I opened her car door for her.

"Baby, can we please just go home?"

"Are you okay?", she said as she put her arms around me.

"No. I mean yes, of course I'm okay, I just . . . it's just that the accident reminded me . . . "

"Edward, I'm fine. I haven't been hurt!", she told me as she kissed my lips and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.

I closed her door and got in to start the car. As I pulled out of the parking space, she reached over and placed her hand on my thigh, leaning towards the center of the car to rest her head against my shoulder and whispering,

"Let's go home then. I think we could use a shower from the looks of us!"

Thank God! I really needed to be alone with her right now, only her. I needed to see every part of her in the safety of our home to know that she really was safe and unharmed. She was right about the shower as well. I hadn't realized just how dust and debris covered we were till now, not to mention that I had splattering of blood on my jacket and shirt. I moved at my speed to carry her from the car to our room.

BPOV

It had been quite a day. I had been amazed this morning at the effect I had on him, he had slept. Though we didn't yet know if there was any significance to it, I was thrilled that he had gotten to experience it, something that I so took for granted as a human! I had the feeling it was just one of the many effects we were going to discover that we had on each other. Though I had enjoyed our dinner with friends, well, up till the crash, I had become accustomed to being around people that cared, people that treated others nicely. Jessica had reminded me just how nasty people could be. I had seen her glares and heard her whispers. I had also heard Edward shut her down as I had returned from the restroom, only to go back and try to rescue Jessica in spite of the way she had acted.

My Edward.

He needed reassurance now. Reassurance that I was indeed unharmed. Today had been a lot for him. It seemed to take him back to all the strain on his emotions that my crash had caused, a strain that would only really be wiped out by my becoming immortal and indestructible like he was.

I was surprisingly unshaken by tonight's events. My attitude was changing, I think. I saw things on a different level, saw my friends as fleeting things around me. I was even starting to see my parents as temporary things in my life. My only constant was Edward.

I walked into the bathroom where he stood adjusting the water in the shower. I took the moment to admire the naked body of my husband. His lean muscular thighs and calves were covered in just the right amount of curly bronze hair. The smooth skin covering the defined muscles of his shoulders led down toward the small triangle of soft hair on the lower part of his back. His trim waist was amazingly sexy with its almost complete lack of love handles, and his but. Dear God his but was amazing, tight and hard . . . just tempting me to grab it.

"Are you checking me out, Mrs. Cullen?", he turned to look over his shoulder and ask.

"I absolutely am!", I replied as he turned to face me, "I like what I see!".

A huge stupid grin that I could not stop covered my face as he turned to me, giving me a front view.

"Apparently you're anxious to get me in that shower, Mr. Cullen!", I said as my eyes drifted down him.

"Please", he answered as he crossed the distance between us, his eyes twinkling, "you know I'm always eager to get you wet!"